14 posts from June 2010

June 28, 2010

Instead of being where he wanted to be, Chase Ford said he spent most of his time this spring and summer working as a maintenance man at his old high school in Corrigan, Texas, a small town with less than 2,000 people, located about a two-hour drive northeast of Houston.

So what did Ford do to pass the time when he wasn't mowing the lawn or picking up after students?

"Daydream about catching touchdowns," the 6-7, 250-pound tight end said Monday as he shopped at WalMart with his family for the stuff he'll need when he moves into his new dorm on the University of Miami campus Tuesday.

"Miami coaches told me they want me to come in and produce. They're not expecting me to be a redshirt. So that's what I want to do -- make an impact."

Ford, one of 29 football players in UM's 2010 signing class, will be among a large group of players to begin taking classes in Coral Gables this week. Six arrived in January and participated in spring football. A few others are still waiting for academic issues to be cleared up (more on that later).

Ford was hoping to be among the early arrivals, but the NCAA denied him a waiver he needed to take off from Kilgore Community College and arrive at UM in January. At Kilgore, where former Hurricanes tight end Kevin Everett once starred, Ford caught 34 passes for 571 yards and three touchdowns during the 2009 season.

The Hurricanes, desperate for tight end help, didn't start recruiting Ford until last December. But once they did, it didn't take them long to convince him to pick them over Arizona and interest from North Carolina and become one of four new tight ends in the class.

Ford said he's been working hard during the offseason in the weight room to be physically ready to play every down if needed. The Hurricanes, who got a huge lift from former basketball star Jimmy Graham at tight end last season, had only two tight ends in the spring: senior Richard Gordon and redshirt freshman Billy Sanders. Ford, who will wear No. 9 at UM, said he thinks he can play right away for UM. Among the biggest areas where he says he needs to improve is blocking.

"I definitely feel like I've gotten stronger, faster," Ford said. "I know I ran a 4.68 as a freshman. I run a lot faster since then. When I visited Miami, saw the guys they had here before, I felt like I fit in with them [Dedrick Epps, Graham]. Both of those guys were good."

DL DELMAR TAYLOR HEADED TO JUCO: The Hurricanes may have signed 29 players in their last class, but not all of them are going to make it into school. Miami Beach defensive lineman Delmar Taylor is the first we know won't.

Taylor, who grew up in the Bahamas, was told by the NCAA he would not be cleared for admission because some of the classes he took when he lived there wouldn't transfer over. Taylor said he still plans to be a Hurricane. "I just have to do this before I can come back," Taylor said.

"It's going to be slow process for him because he may not be qualified," Raines coach Deran Wiley said of Glenn. "He went to an [Drop Back In Academy] his senior year, not here, and they're going through his stuff with a fine tooth comb. I think he's going to get in, but he'll be an August guy."

Cain, who graduated with a 2.5 GPA and scored a 17 on the ACT, is hoping to be an August guy too. "I'm just waiting on the SAT score," Cain said. "I took it a couple weeks ago and should hear back soon. I've just been training, getting ready, running hard. In my mind, I'm definitely leaving for UM August 4th."

Davis, the younger half brother of former Hurricane Phillip Buchanon, hasn't answered his cell phone of late. But both Canesport.com and InsideTheU.com reported this week he could be an academic casualty as well.

Nick Menocal got an offer in the mail from the University of Miami two weeks ago. It didn't take him long to cash in on it.

The 6-3, 232-pound Class of 2011 linebacker from Miami Belen Jesuit asked UM coach Randy Shannon Monday afternoon to save a scholarship for him in the school's next signing class, ending what had become a hot heavy recruiting process with a growing number of schools.

"A couple weeks ago I went to UM unofficially and just felt comfortable from the get go," said Menocal, whose mother went to UM. "Today I went back and I spoke to coach Shannon and told him this is where I want to commit. He said 'Welcome to the family.'"

Menocal, who had 17 offers including ones from Virgina, Iowa, and Florida State, recorded 61 tackles last season and helped lead Belen to the Class 3A state championship game. A baseball player most of his life, he didn't begin playing football until the spring of his freshman year at Belen.

His coach Rich Stuart said Menocal is very raw, but has plenty of upside. Menocal was one of the state's highest scorers at the Nike SPARQ camp, which measures overall athleticism. He ran a 4.59 in the 40-yard dash at the Miami Nike Camp earlier this spring and had a 35.5-inch vertical leap. This season, Menocal will play mostly defensive end for Belen, but said UM is recruiting him to play linebacker.

He will come in as one of UM's brightest recruits, boasting a 3.5 GPA. He already scored a 1510 on the SAT exam and is a full qualifier.

UM has six commitments in its 2011 class. Four are from South Florida.

June 12, 2010

GAINESVILLE – The Hurricanes got the
pitching they needed. Miami even got the big hit when it was
desperate for one.

Only Miami's defense absolutely abandoned ship on
Saturday and the Hurricanes season is over because of it.

The Hurricanes committed seven errors –
including three crucial ones in the final two innings – and watched
the host Gators celebrate a two game sweep of the super regional with
a 4-3 win in 10 innings.

“Obviously we didn't play very
good,'' coach Jim Morris. “You're not going to beat a great club by
making seven errors and Florida is an outstanding club. It was
frustrating all game to watch the defense. It's something that was
our strength in the second half of the season and we didn't show that
in this super regional. I was concerned, no question, when we make a
few mistakes that they play with confidence and get after it. We
didn't do that.''

The Gators became the first team to
qualify for the 2010 College World Series which starts Saturday in
Omaha, Neb. This is the sixth trip to the CWS for the Gators as they
try to capture their first national title. Florida advanced to the
finals in its previous trip to Omaha in 2005. As Florida celebrated,
the Hurricanes walked off the field with their heads down.

The Hurricanes end their season 43-20
and have lost six of their previous seven games to their rivals from
Florida dating back to last year's Gainesville regional. So, Florida
has ended Miami's season the past two years.

“Our main goal is to get to Omaha and
we didn't do it,'' said starting pitcher Chris Hernandez. “As a
team, we see this as a failure. You see it in our faces. We're all
upset. We wanted to get to Omaha and didn't do it.''

Miami led 3-2 with two outs in the
ninth before it committed its sixth error. The seventh, which came in
the 10th, tied a program record for most errors in a postseason game.

Before Saturday, Miami last committed
seven errors in a playoff game against Clemson. In 1978.

Miami led 3-2 with one out in the ninth
when reliever Daniel Miranda struck out Brian Johnson with the bases
loaded. Florida sent soft-hitting Josh Adams to the plate and he
grounded to short. Miami shortstop Stephen Perez threw lightly to
first and Scott Lawson couldn't handle the throw. All runners were
safe and the Gators tied the score. Third baseman Michael Broad made
an error earlier in the inning adding an out to the Florida offense.

In the 10th, Miami right fielder Chris
Pelaez failed to catch a high pop up off the bat of Nolan Fontana and
Fontana raced to second. He moved to third on a sacrifice and ended
up scoring the game-winning run on a two-out single from Austin
Maddox.

Miami threatened in the bottom of the
10th when Pelaez led off with a single and moved to second on a
sacrifice. But Broad struck out looking to reliever Greg Larson and
Rodriguez grounded out to short to end it.

Early on, the Hurricanes had been
struggling to do much of anything offensively for a second straight
night. On Friday, it was sophomore Alex Panteliodis who handcuffed
the Hurricanes, pitching a three-hitter with 12 strikeouts.

On Saturday it was freshman Hudson
Randall's turn to stymie the Miami bats – and for six innings, he
was close to perfect.

Hudson had faced the minimum through
the first six, the only Miami runners to reach being Scott Lawson
(first inning single) and Rony Rodriguez (third inning error).
Neither runner threatened, however, knocked off in double plays.

“I think they have the best pitching
staff we've seen this year,'' Morris said.

Things changed in the seventh as
Frankie Ratcliff lead off with a single. Hudson had put 11 straight
down in order before that single.

With two outs, Pelaez singled putting
runners on the corners. Florida coach Scott O'Sullivan brought in
closer Kevin Chapman to face Nathan Melendres. The outfielder crushed
a 1-1 pitch, sending it opposite field as it easily cleared the right
field fence to give Miami its first lead of the series.

“It's unfortunate that we weren't
able to hold the lead, but that's just the way it goes,'' Melendres
said. “We made errors and handed them the game. It was definitely a
boost, but they found a way to get it done. We gave it to them.
That's baseball.''

Hernandez “pitched well enough to
win,'' said Morris, as he came two outs from a complete game.
Hernandez was lifted with one out in the ninth with runners on. He
ended up giving up three hits in 8 1/3, striking out four and
surrendering only three hits.

GAINESVILLE -- The Hurricanes got a
jolt of bad news Friday night as slugger Harold Martinez needed what season-ending leg surgery following Miami's Game 1 loss in a super regional at the University of Florida.

Martinez has been limping for the past
couple of days and couldn't play third base for the Hurricanes on
Friday – Michael Broad took his spot as Martinez went 0-for-3 with
two strikeouts in Friday's 7-2 loss in Game 1 as Miami's designated hitter.

Broad will remain at third on Saturday
with Chris Pelaez sliding up from the fifth spot to take Martinez's
clean up spot.

Martinez, a sophomore from Braddock,
ends his season batting .295 with a team-leading 21 homers and 69
RBI.

BY SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN

University of Miami third baseman Harold Martinez is in Shands
Hospital at the University of Florida in Gainesville and will miss the
first game of his college career -- a postseason super regional --
Saturday night against the Gators.

His season appears to be
over.

Martinez, a 20-year-old sophomore who is projected as
UM's top draft prospect next season, had a lump the size of a tennis
ball removed from his left shin around midnight after Friday's super
regional loss to UF. His shin, which had repeatedly been hit with foul
balls this season when he was batting, had gotten infected.

He said he likely will remain at Shands until Monday, and then
might have to be in a Miami hospital until the skin fills in and there
is no danger of reinfection. It could take three weeks to heal, Martinez
said.

``I've been in pain for a while,'' Martinez said by
phone Saturday night before the game. ``But I didn't think much of it. I
don't like missing games. I've always said the only way I'd miss a game
is if I can't walk, and now I can't walk.''

Martinez, who
leads UM with 21 home runs, was the designated hitter Friday night but
was driven to the hospital by his father, Alexis, after the game. Alexis
slept on the couch in his son's room, and the family -- including
mother Ivon and 12-year-old sister Ellen -- was planning to watch the
game together on TV.

``Everyone is feeling bad for Harold,''
Alexis said. ``On Friday, Harold almost could not run to first base.''

Martinez was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 19th round of the
2008 draft. He played for Miami Braddock High, and this past week was
named to the NCAA Coral Gables Regional all-tournament team.

UM (43-19) must
defeat Florida (46-14) to stay alive in the NCAA tournament.

“That's just more fuel for the
tank,'' Panteliodis said Friday night, just moments after he completed a three-hit gem to lift the host Gators to a 7-2 victory over the Hurricanes in the opener of the
best-of-3 series.

Grandal, coincidentally, accounted for both of Miami's runs with a homer to right in the fourth. Aside from that
big swing, however, the Hurricanes bats were very quiet against the
sophomore lefty.

“They totally dominated us in every
phase of the game,'' said Miami coach Jim Morris. “They were just
outstanding. We walked a few guys, made two errors. But we got
dominated by their pitcher. He pitched very, very well.''

The best-of-three series resumes
Saturday at 7 (ESPN2). If Miami loses, its season is over. With a
victory, the Gators would advance to the College World Series in
Omaha, Neb., for the sixth time in school history.

Lefty Chris Hernandez (10-3) is the
scheduled starter for Miami (43-19). The Hurricanes can hope their
ace pitches partially as well as Florida's did. Panteliodis
handcuffed Miami during his previous start against the Canes in
March. He did so again Friday.

The Hurricanes collected just two runs
off three hits as Panteliodis (11-2) struck out a career-high 12 and
faced just three batters over the minimum.

Panteliodis retired 11 straight
Hurricanes going into the ninth inning – and he put down Frankie
Ratcliff, Scott Lawson and Grandal in order. Panteliodis struck out
four of the final six Canes he faced.

The Gators (46-15) have won five of the
past six against the Hurricanes dating to last year's Gainesville
Regional.

Senior David Gutierrez, who was the
winning pitcher when Miami won its lone game against the Gators
during a three game set in March, held Florida scoreless through the
opening two innings. It appeared he would continue that in the third.

With bases loaded and two outs,
Florida's Brian Johnson lined out to shortstop Stephen Perez. Only
third base umpire Phil Benson said Perez didn't catch the ball on the
fly, all runners were safe and Jon Pigott scored the first run of the
night. Miami coach Jim Morris argued the decision and the four
umpires discussed it but did not overturn the call.

“I didn't see it very well, but
Stephen Perez was very definitive that he caught the ball,'' said
Morris. “The only guy who could have seen it was the third base
umpire. He asked for help and they all agreed with him. Big call.
They got a hit and two more runs.''

Mike Zunino then came up to the plate
and singled into center, bringing two more runs in – including
Austin Maddox, who reached on an error by Perez earlier in the inning
– to make it 3-0.

The Hurricanes bounced right back in
the fourth and got two of the runs back when Grandal pounced on a
pitch from Panteliodis, driving it opposite field and over the right
field fence to drive in Scott Lawson and make it a 3-2 game.

“I thought we got the momentum back
with that home run,'' said Grandal. “He did a good job keeping his
composure.''

Only Florida would get three more in
the bottom of the frame, with UM second baseman Frankie Ratcliff
helping out. With runners on and no outs, Nolan Fontana grounded
into what should have been a double play; but Ratcliff bobbled the
ball allowing all runners to advance. With bases loaded and no outs,
Florida made it 4-2 on a grounder to Ratcliff, then broke it open on
a two-run single by Maddox.

Gutierrez took the loss, his third of
the season, with one of the six runs surrendered under his watch
credited as earned. Gutierrez was replaced in the fifth by Jason
Santana. Florida's Tyler Thompson, the second batter to face Santana,
made it a 7-2 game when he hit a solo homer to right.

The Hurricanes have won six of the
previous nine super regionals they have participated in since the
format began in 1999 – and it's obvious the Canes like the cozy
confines of Coral Gables.

Miami has won all five super regionals
at home and only one of four played on the road. The Hurricanes have
never won the opening game of a super regional on the road. In
Miami's most recent road super regional in 2006, the Hurricanes
bounced back from an opening night loss to win two straight against
host Mississippi and advance to the CWS.

“The good news is that it's two out
of three,'' Morris said. “We have to come out ready to play.''

GAINESVILLE -- Before we get into tonight's matchup between the Gators and Hurricanes (David Gutierrez is the likely UM starter FYI), we pause to honor one of the great stories in UM baseball history.

On June 11, 1985, Ron Fraser's Hurricanes captured their second national championship in three seasons by knocking off the favored Texas Longhorns (and some chap named Greg Swindell) at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha.

The Hurricanes didn't have a single player from that team to make it to the Major Leagues -- unless you count mascot John Routh and announcer Jay Rokeach. They both made it to the show with the Marlins in 1993.

Greg Ellena was the MVP of that tournament, a fitting choice for the team he represented. Fraser dubbed those Canes 'The Happiest Team in America.''

"They were an unselfish team,'' said WQAM's Joe Zagacki on Friday. "You talk about chemistry and they had it. They believed in each other and were inseparable. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. Right in this ballpark (Gainesville) on a Friday; they got a little rambunctious and coach Fraser brought them out here early Saturday morning and ran them all morning.

They were all puking. They went to get on the bus and were told they were walking back. Fraser said he didn't care if they won or lost that night. It was a lesson learned. And they won that night.''

Here's more from Joe Z:

On the Series

"They won the first game against Stanford with five future major leaguers before they lost to Texas and got knocked into the loser's bracket,'' Zagacki said.

"That team then won three straight one-run games -- 2-1, 6-5 and 2-1. They beat some great teams in Oklahoma State, Mississippi State and Texas. They were all loaded. A squeeze bunt beat Texas and forced a winner-take-all game.

"I remember feeling pretty good before the game. I was in the Texas dugout and they were all there stoically watching the rain. I go into the Miami dugout and it's empty. The team was in the locker room, using their bats to sing Frank Sinatra's My Way. They were very loose.''

On winning it

"They were relaxed, they knew they were going to win the game. They just kept getting one hit after another.

"Jay Rokeach had tears coming out of his eyes.

"They were the epitome of team. There was no ego on that team.

"I can still hear Sonny Hirsch say 'goodbye Mississippi State, hello Miami.' I use that every once in a while to honor him.

"You know who was supposed to be on that team? Mike Piazza. He got cut.

"Our catcher Chris Magno had a blood clot, couldn't play in the championship game. They all went to the hospital after the game. They were still in their uniforms.

"I still have that ring. Happiest Team in America, it says.

"We had the reunion earlier this year. All but two guys showed up. It was like that season was still going. So much fun.

"That team just kept winning. And they almost won it the next year. It took a great play from Florida State to knock them out.

Thanks to John 'The Maniac' Routh for emailing me to remind me about the anniversary.

Here's what he sent me in an email earlier this evening.

“I was
the official mascot of the series as "The Maniac."

“I had asked the NCAA head, Jerry
Miles, prior to the series if I could join the dogpile 'when Miami
wins.' He laughed. We were the eighth seed. With two outs in the
ninth, I looked at him. He smiled and gave me a thumbs up. So in the
highlights, you see The Maniac celebrating with the Canes!

“Greg Ellena, the bullpen catcher
midseason. Ron Fraser started him on a whim on a Sunday. He hit a
home run -- and ended as the CWS MVP!

“Catcher Chris Magno was in the
hospital, and the team took the trophy to visit him after the game.

“The game was played on a Tuesday
after two rain delays. It was a little chilly for June.

“After Greg Swindell was given his
second place plaque, he heaved it out into center field. May still be
there!

“Of course, the highlight of the
season for me was The Miami Maniac's Wedding back in March. ESPN
covered the entire 14 minute ceremony live...with Sebastian the ibis
as Best Man.''

-- And now, here's Jim Martz with his memories of the 85 team:

"They had the best reliever. Miami never won the series without a stopper. Rick Raether was crucial to their success.

"The A starter missed most of the year came back for the series. Kevin Sheary came through and got some big wins in Omaha.

"Up here in Gainesville is where they got their name 'the Happiest Team.'

"They got caught drinking, so he ran them. When they got back to campus, Fraser had t-shirts ready for them.

-- Feel free to leave your comments and memories from that team in the comment section.

Morris (center) was
joined by ACC Player of the Year Yasmani Grandal (right) as well as ace
pitcher Chris Hernandez (left).

Morris and his two players spoke on a
variety of subjects on Thursday – including how Morris could
possibly live in Miami as long as he has and not learn Spanish.

Personal note: I was being a little sarcastic there. I grew up here and my Spanish is pretty horrid. So I know where Morris is coming from. I would love to, have tried to improve, but....Anyway....

That
question was posed after Morris – asked about Florida having four coaches during his tenure at UM – said that former UF coach Andy
Lopez sparked some fear in him when he visited South Florida.

“He worried me to death when he came
to Miami and was speaking Spanish to my players,'' Morris said with a laugh. “No
comprende. I thought he might come into Miami and steal some of our
guys away. Thank goodness most of the guys wanted to stay home.”

That sparked a second question from a reporter from the Associated Press on why
Morris didn't speak Spanish.

Morris admits he tried to learn the
language with the use of a tutor, but because he isn't immersed in
the language, it didn't really stick – and he has been able to
survive without it.

“I've learned a few words, but I
can't repeat them,'' Morris said laughing.

“You think you need Spanish in Miami,
but you really don't. I had a tutor for a couple months, every
morning 8 until 10. Then I had my coaches meeting and had the worst
headache I ever had at 10 every day. They spoke no English [in the tutoring] and I was
trying to do it. But once I left that room, everyone spoke English to
me.

“We have Latin players who don't
speak Spanish. They are now second and third generation and don't
speak Spanish at home. If I go to a game and there are five Cuban
guys sitting there speaking Spanish, I'll walk up – and I think
it's a thing of courtesy – that they stop speaking Spanish.
Originally it was different for me. But I have no reason now to have
to do that. I always ask J.D. [Arteaga] to watch my backside around
the guys.

“I'm in a very relaxed atmosphere. I
don't think I need it. But it would be nice. But I don't have time, I
haven't made time, and no one speaks Spanish to me. They might speak
it about me, but not to me.''

Now, onto the baseball stuff....

Morris said he is excited to be back in
the supers, but would much rather be in the Gables. As far as trash
talk goes between the two teams, didn't happen. Neither group were
fanning any flames.

“We're very excited about being in
the super regionals, but like everyone else, we'd rather be playing
at home,'' Morris said.

“But Florida had an outstanding season and
there's no doubt they deserve to host. I know they have an
outstanding club. We're going to have to be at the top of our game to
beat them, especially at this park. I've been here many, many times
for many, many years at Miami and Georgia Tech. I'm expecting a great
crowd and a great game.”

So, what about Miami losing to UF in
the regionals last year?

“I don't think anything adds fuel to
the fire. It's very competitive,'' he said. “The fact is, I don't
know how many times in the past 17 years Miami and Florida have
played for the right to go to the World Series or the super regional.
But it seems like every other year since I've been here. This goes
back a long ways. It's a great rivalry.''

“I don't think it's a fiery rivalry
but a great rivalry. It's very competitive. I don't think there's bad
blood between Miami and Florida, at least not from me. We've played
them a lot of times and it's been a great atmosphere in both
places.''

Is it more fun playing a rival in a
super regional?

“I don't think you need anything more
than Omaha on the line to be honest,'' Morris said. “We're playing
Texas A&M last weekend to have the chance to advance and it was
hard played. When you get here, it doesn't matter who you are
playing. Guys are going to come out and play. If they don't,
something's wrong. This is for all the marbles, the chance to get to
go to Omaha.

“I believe once you get to Omaha, any
of the eight teams can win it. We've won it twice since I've been at
Miami. Coach Fraser always told me that when he won it, it wasn't
with the most talented teams. But they were the best teams. We've
gone out there and lost with some of the most talented teams I've
ever been around. But we've won it with a young team and with an old
team. I know you can do it anyway.

“It's the right to go to Omaha is
what it's all about. Every player in the United States who plays
college baseball dreams of playing in Omaha and getting the chance to
win a ring.''

Said Hernandez, regarding Miami's expectations:

“We came here to win a national
championship. If we don't reach
Omaha and win, it's a failure. We went there in 2008 and didn't win.
We all felt [the season] was a failure. We all say Omaha after games
and that starts in the fall. That's where it's at. That's where we
want to be.''

-- Will have more tomorrow, with Yasmani Grandal talking about Miami's bats waking up at the right time of the year as well as some stuff regarding the MLB Draft and how Morris says the timing of it may be disruptive, but it isn't the fault of the Major Leagues.

Also hope to have some pregame stuff from the radio guys who cover this team on a very regular basis (both from WVUM 90.5 The Voice as well as Joe Z. from WQAM) and maybe some stuff from the ESPN dudes.

-- Don't forget for breaking news and such, you can subscribe to our social media sites. It's easy, it's free and sometimes it is fun.

Twitter: @OnFrozenPond

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-- For those Gator fans checking around today, sorry there wasn't news from the UF practice. I do apologize. They went early today -- before Miami's practice at 11:45 a.m. -- and I was driving up from South Florida and missed it.

With Joe Goodman and Gator Clause on vacation, I will try and fill the void with more Florida news tomorrow.

With Florida not announcing their
starting rotation on Thursday, Morris declined to as well. Fair enough.

Morris told me he would start a righty and to figure it out.

OK, here's my guess: Expect either senior Jason Santana – who beat the Gators back on
March 6 by going 4 2/3 innings and surrendering three earned runs –
or senior David Gutierrez to get the call.

Morris admitted that the UF series was
so long ago, it feels like it was played last season so I don't know
how much Santana's performance that Saturday night a few months ago will
play into the equation.

Gutierrez has been starting of late
with Santana coming out of the bullpen ever since the opening of the
Georgia Tech series when Santana only lasted 2 2/3 innings in the
Jackets' romp.

But Santana was good Sunday against the Aggies,
replacing Gutierrez (5 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 4 K) and going 3 2/3
innings with one run off two hits.

“I have faith in the starter that he
will do a great job and I'll be gearing up my game and imagine it's
Friday night on Saturday,'' said Hernandez.

Florida's ace is sophomore Alex
Panteliodis (10-2), Florida's first 10-game winner since 2005. He was
UF's choice to pitch against Oregon State in the winner's bracket
game of the regional, and he struck out eight in that win. He beat UM
on March 5 by going 5 2/3 innings and giving up on run off two hits
with eight strikeouts.

June 09, 2010

Good evening Miami fans, hope you are enjoying Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Quite a series, eh?

Well, we should have quite an interesting baseball series this weekend in Gainesville.

The Canes and the Gators have had some epic postseason matchups in the past and this one should be pretty good as well.

First team to two wins goes to Omaha.

Got to love that kind of incentive.

Anyway, I'll be taking over this blog for the next couple of days (unless Manny gets a few more Northwestern kids to commit to Randy Shannon) and will try and keep everyone updated on the doings of the baseball bunch.

My rental car is fueled up, my bag is packed and I'm ready for a few hours of sleep before rolling up the Turnpike first thing in the morning.

I will have updates from Thursday's early afternoon practice in Gainesville from both Miami and Florida and will also be updating my Facebook and Twitter sites throughout the weekend.

June 04, 2010

NEW YORK -- Just got off the phone with Miami Northwestern quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who called me to confirm that he has committed to the Canes. Here is a short interview I was able to conduct with him in the middle of the Marlins-Mets game.

Q: Why did you decide now was the time to commit to UM?"Right now, heading into the summer, I figured it was just a good time to do it. I just called coach McGriff and coach Shannon and told them about it. They were actually about to speak at a banquet in Chicago, so I didn't have a chance to talk to them."

Q: Are you still going to take your visits?"I don't know about the visits. Me and my mom have to talk about that.

Q: Why UM?"I'm going to be the only quarterback they're going to take. They're in my backyard. They've sent a large number of players and quarterbacks to the NFL. I just want to go there and become the next great one."

Q: Did the fact [former Northwestern quarterback] Jacory Harris is the man at UM play a factor for you in choosing UM at all?"Not really. Jacory is cool. We're friends. But I'm looking forward to playing with all those guys who went to Northwestern.

Q: How much is this about you wanting to just get the recruiting process over with?"Honestly, I want to be done with recruiting. I mean, right now, I'm just enjoying it.
But it does get crazy."

Q: UM isn't going to have a big class. Do you know for sure you are going to be the only QB in this class?"I don't know if it was a promise or not. They just said I'd be the only QB they would take."

Q: Is it important for you to play right away?"It's important to me, but it's not that important. In college, the game is faster, you have to learn more plays. I know I want to learn the system. If I can play right away, I would. But I know it's going to take at least a little time. I just want to go in and compete, fight to get on the field."

Q: You sound relaxed."I'm excited. I really am. I just don't like talking about it so much. I like playing football. I like letting my play talk for me. That's it. But I'm happy."

NEW YORK -- I'm covering the Marlins-Mets up here at CitiField, but felt compelled to pass along the news that a source at UM has confirmed reports that Miami Northwestern quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and receiver Eli Rogers have committed to the Canes.

Bridgewater, the No. 1 recruit in 2010 in Miami-Dade County, hasn't returned phone calls from The Miami Herald since Canesport first quoted Rogers saying both he and his star quarterback had called Hurricanes coaches to inform them of their decision. Rogers hasn't returned phone calls either.

But he did tell Canesport.com: "Me and Teddy just committed. We just decided we wanted to do it and let the world know. Since me and Teddy are so close we decided to go on the same day. Today Teddy said, `Let's make it official and do it,' so that's what we did."

Northwestern coach Billy Rolle said he hasn't spoken to Bridgewater or Rogers "lately," and has only heard reports they've committed. "I always let my kids handle their commitments," Rolle told The Miami Herald. "If they've committed, I don't know about it. But when I do talk to them, I'll ask."

Bridgewater, considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, completed 165 of his 262 attempts for 2,546 yards, 32 TDs and 12 INTs as a junior and ran for 379 yards and five scores as a junior. He was clearly the Hurricanes' No. 1 recruiting priority in the 2011 class.

Rogers, unranked by Rivals, finished third on the team at Northwestern as a junior with 35 catches for 551 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The question now becomes how firm both commitments really are. Both players told me in March that regardless of whom they committed to, they would still take their five recruiting trips. UM coach Randy Shannon has said he takes commitments from players who still take visits with a grain of salt.

Northwestern has been a longtime pipeline to UM. They sent seven players there in 2008 including quarterback Jacory Harris. But I wouldn't consider this a done deal.